Preheat the oven to 375°F. Melt the butter stick in a microwave-safe bowl for 30-60 seconds. Mix minced garlic, Italian seasoning, sea salt, and black pepper to make garlic butter sauce.
Unpack chicken thighs and pat them dry with a paper towel to remove excess liquid. Place chicken thighs in a large casserole or baking dish in one layer.
Spread garlic butter herb mixture on thighs to cover skin. Note: If you like salty food like me, sprinkle sea salt on the chicken before or after buttering the thighs.
Bake on the centre rack for 40 minutes in a preheated oven. Remove the chicken from the oven and baste the thighs with juices.
Bake chicken skin at 425 degrees F for 5–10 minutes until golden brown and crisp. For crisper chicken skin, move the oven rack to the third-from-top shelf and broil for 3–5 minutes.
165 degrees F is fully cooked chicken thighs, but I prefer 180 degrees or higher for taste and texture. Longer cooking gives bone-in thighs a better texture than chicken breasts.
If the internal temperature is 165 or higher, thighs can be cooked to your liking. Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh and wait until the numbers stop moving for an accurate reading.
Enjoy garlic butter chicken thighs with your favourite sides! White or brown rice and steamed or roasted vegetables absorb sauce. Pan juices go on rice. Fresh lemon juice can be drizzled over tender chicken thighs with lemon slices.